Zimbabwe’s romance with English football is a well storied tale in the annals of the beautiful game not only at home but across the entire continent of the Great motherland.
It first started with the great Peter Ndlovu barely out of his teens when he was signed by West Midlands side Coventry City making history by becoming the first African player to play and score in the English Premier League.
As many of my generation would humorously dramatize the episode of his big move “Peter sat for his O’level exams whilst the flight to London was already waiting at Harare international airport now Robert Mugabe international airport “.
Football fanatics from the potshaped land still recount the move as if it was yesterday, as it gave birth to a rich legacy of football heritage from Zimbabwe in the English game.
Most recently Marshal Munetsi has followed in those footsteps of that rich legacy that Peter Ndlovu set into motion, that saw Benjani Mwaruwari also emulating when he signed for Pompey Portsmouth in 2007 from French side Aj Auxere. Before him there was Bruce Grobelaar who charmed Merseyside Liverpool with his goal keeping heroics.
In a recent interview with Joe Hart former Manchester City goalie, Marshal Munetsi could not have lived up to that legacy any better.
And how better can it get than being granted an audience and platform to discuss by a premier league winner in Joe Hart.
Discussing and dissecting on everything regards the beautiful game Munetsi clearly articulated his football journey and how former Zimbabwe captain Peter Ndlovu was his biggest inspiration showing how anything is possible with sheer determination, heart and grit. Considering Nuddy as Peter Ndlovu was affectionately referred to at Highfield road in the West Midlands it’s no coincidence Munetsi draws inspiration from him as his English Premier league side Wolverhampton Wanderers hails from that part England.
Hart discussed Munetsi’s work with the FIFA’s players union initiative an initiative Hart is also part of, and how through the platform he Munetsi championed the lifting of the FIFA ban on Zimbabwe after the government got involved in football matters.
Joe Hart mentioned the issue of rogue player agents remarking how he sort of grew up in a bubble were an agent was assigned him at age 16.Marshal Munetsi responded by articulating how the union seeks to bridge that gap in Africa as many prospective football professionals have been duped by such fly by night rogue elements.
Narrating how it is the dream of many in Africa for such an opportunity to play abroad, he however called upon stakeholders chief among them guardians and parents to take due diligence so as to not lead these young footballers into scenarios they end up being stranded in foreign lands as many have, after prospects failed to yield.
Munetsi’s work is a first in a long time where a player gives his effort for the flag, Peter Ndlovu quickly comes to mind for his unwavering commitment and patriotism as in many instances he would bail out the national association when it came to players’ packages during international duty. One’s love for their country is not something to be taken lightly taking into account the lengths others are willing to go as the 2 have shown with Peter Ndlovu being the torch bearer.
Munetsi also remarked how he would to love see all countries in Africa playing their games home, not home away from home it can be qualifiers for any tournament, a situation he and colleagues in the Zimbabwe national soccer team found themselves in both the Nations cup and world cup qualifiers. With no FIFA approved venues to host international games Zimbabwe found itself playing home matches for the most part in neighboring South Africa, taking away the chance from local fans to watch their number one team live, whilst they cheer on.
In that vein one would have to call on governments and associations to account, as he mentioned how associations in the case of Zifa receive funds from the world governing body and never invest in having and maintaining a proper Fifa approved football venue.
The interview showed Marshal Munetsi is not your ordinary football player, as he was giving concise analysis in what football administration should entail.
English football has indeed not only given a platform for Zimbabwe’s finest to showcase their talent but also has groomed football leaders, Peter Ndlovu has been Mamelodi Sundowns team manager for close to a decade and Munetsi is already showing those leadership capabilities whilst he is still playing.
The interview is an eye opener to every soccer player on the importance of paper work as Munetsi mentioned how critical that was when he approached FIFA with contracts agreed on with Zifa and how the association renaged on that commitment resulting in government involvement that invoked the ban.
Footballers have always been viewed as not being booksmart but Munetsi is proving that narrative otherwise showing how paying attention to detail is pivotal.
Munetsi also briefly spoke about his philanthropic work with his foundation that seeks to support the girl child mentioning how they ought to make decisions from a point of strength not weakness regardless of vulnerabilities such as early pregnancy, with access education to education a key factor in that vein.
That initiative has also saw support from his former club Ligue 1 side Stade Reims with club chairman committing a 100 euros to the foundation for every kilometer Munetsi runs on match day, and as he alluded in appreciation he would gladly run every kilometer knowing the good that money would bring in achieving the objectives of the foundation.
Peter Ndlovu showed that everything is possible when he moved to the English Premier League as a teenager, and Munetsi is surely doing the same and living that which Peter showed.
